Confronting White Ignorance: Will Disrupting Colorblind Logic Produce Antiracism Among Whites?

• In Event: 326 - Regular Session. National Perspectives on Racism and Anti-Racism

Abstract

Prevailing theories articulate colorblind racism as a distinctive form of white supremacy, discernible from the more “mean-spirited” racism of prior eras. Many privilege deep, structural institutionalization as driving an everyday, socially reproducing racist praxis among whites today – irrespective of their intentions. As a result, colorblindness is increasingly read as an ideological but sincere form of ignorance that, if corrected, will lead to antiracism among whites. I test these assumptions, qualitatively analyzing 105 family wealth analyses produced by white college undergraduates researching racial inequality and the wealth gap. I identify three praxis themes communicated by whites following an effective interruption of racial ignorance. My examination reveals that despite whites’ regular ability to overcome colorblindness and produce race-conscious logic, only rarely does this race consciousness appear to inspire explicitly antiracist praxis. Moreover, I find some communicate active plans to engage in everyday racist praxis even after embracing race-conscious logic, in order to secure material benefits they now acknowledge as racially privileged. Revealing the strong, possessive investment in a structure of racial oppression and privilege among racially conscious whites suggests the materiality of race more centrally inhibits antiracism than does colorblindness. As such, my analysis challenges practical solutions that position whites’ education and consciousness-raising as central to advancing racially progressive goals.

Author

• Jennifer C. Mueller, Skidmore College